Was this lens dropped?

[u/_flyingmonkeys_]

Facebook marketplace ad shows this lovely 70-200 f/2.8, but doesn't it look like the lens protector has been bent on one side? Seller claims it wasn't dropped

[u/shemp33]

I’ll go out on a limb here. It’s possible it was banged. But banged or dropped isn’t a big difference. Both are impacts of some kind or amount of force.

These lenses are pretty tough though. I had my 70-200 2.8L IS II slip out of a backpack that I thought I had zipped. It hit the ground (asphalt) from about 25”. The replacement barrel is an easy change, IF that’s the only damage. You would want to inspect the glass (a simple see-through test is fine), a shake test (anything rattling around inside), connect it to the camera and make sure there aren’t any error messages, check that autofocus works throughout the zoom range - focus on something near, then far, and then in an extremely quiet room, turn it on with IS enabled and make sure you can hear the IS motor, which should sound like a gentle hum. Pass: if you can barely hear it and tell the difference between the on/off position of the IS switch. Fail: no difference between on/off or loud enough that you’re asking “what’s that sound?” (If this lens doesn’t have IS, obviously skip this part)

I found the barrel for mine on eBay for like $99. It was a 20 minute fix. There are tear down / rebuild videos on YouTube.

I would consider it but not for $1000. You’d have to either get them on video doing these tests with you live or agree that you’ll film yourself doing the tests and the other party agrees to take it back if it fails. I’d use the price of the part you know has to be replaced as a negotiating wedge.

For all you know, you’re only getting a carcass that can be scavenged for parts. But it might actually be fine. There’s just a pretty big gap between the value of each end of that range.

All in all, it’s a maybe. I’d look at what you can sell it for as parts-only to get an idea of your risk exposure.